October 9, 2007
Kansas City Native Named National Hero
Kansas City, Mo. (Nov. 10) –– A Kansas City woman received today the national “Heroes In Our Midst” award for her extraordinary commitment to connecting with those in need in her community.
Heroes In Our Midst, a national recognition program of the Greeting Card Association, named Robin Winner, 59, a national hero during a ceremony at the Camp Fire USA National Leadership Conference. Winner, now Executive Director of Synergy Services, has led a collaborative effort to build a network of shelters and support systems for victims of abuse and a violence prevention program in Kansas City schools.
Heroes In Our Midst honors everyday heroes who give of themselves to connect with others to show they care, and encourages Americans to send cards to the heroes in their own lives. Since its launch last year, Heroes In Our Midst has generated thousands of cards for community and personal heroes.
“We give communities an opportunity to express their gratitude to local heroes,” said Chris Bouchard, the national spokesman of Heroes In Our Midst. “Volunteers like Robin deserve recognition, and we hope that today’s presentation has inspired people to convey their appreciation to Robin and to their own personal heroes.”
For over thirty years, Winner has made community service her career. Now, through Synergy Services, she has inspired many of the organizations and volunteers to join Synergy’s cause. A long time Camp Fire USA employee and United Way association chair, Winner continues to volunteer with each organization and has drawn on her knowledge of their missions to bring them into her fight against domestic violence.
“I was there at the beginning, part of the whole development of the domestic violence movement,” said Winner of her work with Jewish Women United in the 1970s. “We worked across the country establishing that it wasn’t an entitlement to abuse women, making that a reality.”
Since that time, her vision for comprehensive aid for abused community members incorporates volunteers and national organizations in an effort to work “not to the people or for the people but with the people,” said Winner. Already, she has led the construction of a multifaceted system of housing facilities, counseling programs, and other resources for women and children who have suffered abuse in the home. In addition, she has helped institute a ‘bullying prevention’ program in public schools.
“Robin does as much volunteer work in the community as possible along with managing Synergy,” said Judy Dale, one of Winner’s colleagues at Synergy Services. “Robin volunteers at the Saint Vincent Soup Kitchen, and, as Robin is Jewish, she goes to the Synergy residential programs and cooks so that staff can be with their families on Christmas. Everything she does is above and beyond.”
In addition to devoting her career and her free time to serving her community, Winner has brought volunteerism into her family’s lifestyle as well. “I went into the family business,” Winner said of her choice to devote her life to service. “We were always expected to be involved. Now both of my kids do volunteering. I’ve always felt that I have, that everyone has, an obligation to help heal the world. We really need to address the issue by solving problems and by empowering people.”
At the ceremony, Bouchard, John Fore, Vice President of Camp Fire USA, and the Camp Fire Heartland Council presented Winner with the bronze hero medallion and greeting cards from grateful members of her community. “I think cards are a great way to share your thoughts and feelings,” Winner said. “I love cards.”
Heroes In Our Midst and Camp Fire USA are asking members of the Kansas City community to send cards or notes expressing their thanks to Winner, as well as cards to the heroes in their own lives. Cards for Winner should be addressed to:
Robin Winner
c/o Camp Fire USA Heartland Council
7930 State Line Road, Suite 100
Prairie Village, Kansas 66208
“Heroes In Our Midst is all about the rewards of connecting with others and building human ties,” said Bouchard. “Greeting cards are a cherished tradition for connecting and showing that you care about others. People everywhere have a special story of how someone impacted their life or created a shared memory through a greeting card.”
At the ceremony, the Heroes In Our Midst program said a check for $1,000 would be donated in Winner’s name to Camp Fire USA Heartland Council to support the efforts of volunteers like Winner who are reaching out to connect with others in their community and make such significant impacts on the lives of local children.
To learn more about Heroes In Our Midst, visit www.HeroesInOurMidst.org.
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Big Brothers Big Sisters is the oldest, largest and most effective youth mentoring organization in the U.S. It has been the leader in one-to-one youth service for more than a century, developing positive relationships that have a direct and lasting impact of the lives of young people. Big Brothers Big Sisters serves 240,000 children, ages 6 through 18, in all 50 states. The national offices are located in Philadelphia. To volunteer or donate, visit www.bbbsa.org.
The Greeting Card Association, headquartered in Washington, DC, represents nearly 300 U.S. and international greeting card publishers and suppliers. It is dedicated to celebrating, promoting and preserving the tradition and cultural values of exchanging greeting cards.
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Big Brothers Big Sisters is the oldest, largest and most effective youth mentoring organization in the U.S. It has been the leader in one-to-one youth service for more than a century, developing positive relationships that have a direct and lasting impact of the lives of young people. Big Brothers Big Sisters serves 240,000 children, ages 6 through 18, in all 50 states. The national offices are located in Philadelphia. To volunteer or donate, visit www.bbbsa.org.
The Greeting Card Association, headquartered in Washington, DC, represents nearly 300 U.S. and international greeting card publishers and suppliers. It is dedicated to celebrating, promoting and preserving the tradition and cultural values of exchanging greeting cards.